Iraq bans trade with Sweden over Quran burning: A new “Mohammed crisis” may be looming.
According to international news agencies, protesters from the Shiite Imam Muqtada al-Sadr stormed the Swedish embassy in Baghdad and set it on fire after midnight last night, in response to Sweden giving permission for a demonstration today, Thursday, to burn the Quran in front of the Iraqi diplomatic mission in the Swedish capital, Stockholm.
Later reports indicated that the demonstration did take place, but without the burning; however, the Holy Quran was kicked. In response, the Iraqi government announced the expulsion of the Swedish ambassador from Iraq and the recall of the Iraqi chargé d'affaires from Sweden, in addition to banning all trade with Sweden, including with the telecommunications company Ericsson.
According to TV2, an expert believes that a new crisis, known as the Muhammad crisis, may hit Sweden, as this escalation brings to mind the crisis of the offensive cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, in 2005, which caused Denmark to suffer significant economic losses as a result of the popular boycott of Danish products at that time.
The escalation from Iraq today stems from a recent series of Quran burnings that have occurred on Swedish soil in recent months. According to a TV2 correspondent, Sweden is taking the matter very seriously: “People in Sweden are worried, not only about their trade relations with the Middle East but also about the safety of Swedes when they travel abroad.”.
In this regard, the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on Swedes in the Middle East to avoid being in large gatherings. According to TV2, Paul Fritz Kier, a professor at CBS and an expert on Swedish foreign policy, believes that although the planned burning of the Quran was somehow averted at the last minute, there is no doubt that the situation could develop into a Swedish version of the “Mohammed Crisis” of 2005 and 2006, where when something like this happens it is out of control and no one knows where it leads, according to the source.
Denmark news in Arabic, Denmark news today, Denmark news, Denmark news, Denmark in Arabic, Denmark in Arabic, Denmark in Arabic, family reunification in Denmark, family reunification laws in Denmark, immigration to Europe, working in Europe, Arabs in Denmark, burning the Quran, burning the Quran, burning the Quran, Asma Abbas, Denmark news in Arabic, investment in Denmark, investment in Europe, studying in Europe, studying at a European university, European scholarships, Mustafa Naous, Rabi Azd Ahmed, Arab lawyer in Denmark, Arab lawyer in Denmark
